Between passing classes, applying for college and trying to enjoy senior year, Russellville's band and choir members graduating in 2019 are preparing to perform in their last concerts as students.
Ethan Huff, Nick Moore, Riley Marcum, Jake Keller and Seth Fredrickson will play their respective instruments Dec. 13 in the Russellville Christmas concert at the high school. Senior soprano Kristian Wilcox will sing with the choir.
The concert is free to the public, but a donation or positive note can be left before or after the performance. The program begins at 6 p.m. and will feature the middle and high school vocal choirs, as well as bands from the sixth, seventh and eighth grades and the high school.
More than an extra curricular, band can influence the students lives, band director Nathan Gargus said. The senior group is especially close to him.
"This class that will be graduating this year, they were freshmen whenever I got here," Gargus said. "It's been great to see those kids grow though these four years."
He said he remembers recruiting Huff back into the band in spring 2016. Since then he's been a drum major and now plays the euphonium.
Vocal director Rachel Gerlt said the two years she has been with the choir, she has seen confidence from Wilcox.
"She's really willing to sing and put herself out there," Gerlt said.
Some of the students have participated in activities outside of school. Gerlt said Wilcox auditioned for district choir.
With the guidance of Gargus, Keller and Fredrickson found themselves in the Jefferson City Community Symphonic Band.
"When I first joined, I only really joined because Gargus and Seth had been doing it all summer," Keller said.
He plays the trombone and joined community band in 2017. He is good friends with Fredrickson, who is a percussionist.
They both will perform at 11 a.m. Dec. 15 at the Jefferson City Capital Mall Christmas Sing-a-long.